Mayes County Bridge Gets Quick Replacement

An historic bridge in Mayes County has been replaced by something new. That kind of news often makes people angry. News On 6 anchor Scott Thompson reports those who live near the piece of history are glad to see it gone.

"It was an old wooden structure, it had been here I would say probably since the 30's at least," said Mayes County Commissioner Alva Martin.

Anyone who drove over it agrees.  The old bridge over Wolf Creek northwest of Salina was past its expiration date.

"The old bridge used to sit kind of on an angle too, so you kind of drove up and angled onto it, and then turned to get off," said Martin.

"Every time you went over it, it made a noise; you could hear somebody come across it from here," said Orvilla Newton.

The Newton family lives half a mile away. Hauling hay or any other heavy load meant taking a two mile detour.  But those days are just about over.

"By the time we're done with it, it'll be around 40,000," said Martin.

It may be the closest thing there is to an instant bridge. It came in four sections from Arkansas, and took only four hours to assemble.

Martin says building the foundation and waiting for good weather took some time, but the actual work lasted only about two and a half weeks. The new bridge saved time and money, because the county could use its own crews.

"If we had've put it in a program, it would have been a minimum of two years before it would have been replaced.  And I'm sure the cost would have been around a $100, $150,000," said Martin.

The Newtons and their neighbors say the bridge will be a bargain.

"Especially having to go the back ways you know to get to town, you know, out of our way.  There's a lot of people who use that bridge.  Lots of them," said Newton.

Martin says the bridge should be finished early next week. He wants to build another pre-fab bridge near Chelsea.